ABILENE, Texas – Trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, the McMurry Women's Basketball team went on an insane fourth quarter run en route to an 87-72 win over Louisiana College inside Kimbrell Arena on Friday.
McMurry (7-2, 0-1 American Southwest Conference) outscored the Wildcats (2-6, 0-0) by a 19-point margin in the final frame, 31-12, to overcome a four-point deficit. The 87 points marks a season high for the McMurry offense.
Although both teams represent the American Southwest Conference, Friday's game served as a nonconference game and only factored into each team's overall record. The teams meet again on Feb. 8 with that contest counting toward each team's ASC record.
The second half hero was senior guard Sarah Doherty, who did not score a single basket in the first half. Doherty exploded for 18 points on six three-pointers in the final half, tying for a team-high in scoring.
Doherty helped the War Hawks break a dry spell from behind the arc, as McMurry finished 1-18 from three-point land in the first half. Although the second half didn't begin too hot, McMurry's offense finished 11-26 from downtown in the second half, which equates to 42.3 percent.
The post duo of senior Skyler Reyna and freshman Destiny Mathews helped the War Hawks remain close in the first half, combining for 22 of the team's 38 points in the first half.
Mathews finished with 18 points to tie Doherty's team-high, while Reyna added 17 points and 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double in nine games this season.
Earning her first career start on Friday, freshman Cassidy Melton scored 11 points and had a career-best six rebounds in the win. Eight of her points came in the second half, including a pair of three-pointers to help McMurry take the fourth quarter lead.
Junior Francheska Aguino and freshmen Kaitlyn Randall and Taya Bridges each added three pointers in the second half. Randall also had McMurry's lone triple in the first half, finishing with six points.
Although she didn't score, freshman guard D'Asia White facilitated the offense with a team-leading and career-best eight assists. White's eight dimes also doubled her previous career-best of four, which she's done in three of the last four games.
McMurry will take its 7-2 start into the holiday break, returning to action on Dec. 31 with a New Year's Eve exhibition at Tarleton State. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Stephenville, Texas.
Furthermore, the War Hawks return home on Jan. 2 to kick off the new year against LeTourneau. Tip-off for that ASC matchup is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Kimbrell Arena.
